Any use for small diameter bamboo?

[Duffy]

I know of a small patch of bamboo(maybe 500 pieces) free for the cutting. Trouble is, most of the shoots are 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Is there a use for boo this small in bow making or should I just forget about it? The owners say they have had the patch for about ten years and it never gets any bigger in diameter. I have heard of an all bamboo bow--how would you go about that?

[BenBow]

If you've got lots of patience and time you could cut it into narrow strips and then glue it back together to make your own actionboo. Be a lot of work but could be very worth it. Wish I had some here so I could try it but all I've found is some 1/2"+ stuff that doesn't even look good for arrows.

[Pat B]

You could get a strip(3/4" to 1") out of one to back a narrow long bow. Ipe or osage would be a good belly wood for it...or as BenBow said strip it out and glue the narrow strips lengthwise along the bow.     Pat

[Springbuck]

I have used strips of smaller bamboo on the bellies of recurves for a lightweight stiffening material.  You can toast it a little and bend it nicely.

  Is it thick-walled or pretty thin?

  I also have used whole canes to make some lashed on tips for a bow.

  2" is big enough to get backings from, for a narrow, stacked design, as mentioned above.  You can even choose out the best parts and splice two of them in the handle.

[Duffy]

Thank you all very much for the replys!!  They are all good ideas that I had not thought of.

Springbuck,
     
       I guess you would say they are kinda thin. They are all between 1/8 and 3/16 thick.

[Pat B]

When bamboo grows it gets to it's ultimate height the first year. After that it begins to mature and this thickens the culm(the bamboo shoot) walls. If you cut the boo the first growing season the wall will be thin. If you wait until after the second growing season the culms will be more mature thus have thicker walls. So, with bamboo, whether for bows or arrows, you want mature culms.    Pat

[mwmwmb]

if it is not getting bigger in maybe native river cane and not bamboo.